It was like a scene out of the movies as Vice President Mike Pence visited Morning Star Dairy outside Onalaska Friday.

Grain trucks lined County Road Z to limit traffic. Vehicles were stopped and searched before entering the farm, and drivers were checked for identification and temperature. Security and secret service were on hand.

Hosting an event on a farm can interrupt the day-to-day routine for people and livestock alike, but Morning Star Dairy owners John and Barbara Schaller welcomed the challenge.

“The very first thing I ever heard about it was on Saturday six days ago,” John said. “I didn’t know he was even coming to Wisconsin, and I thought it was a gag at first.”

On Monday, individuals working for the campaign scouted the farm and decided it was a good fit. Pence was to take part in a round table there to discuss the new trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada (USMCA) that went into effect July 1.

“It has been a humbling experience and an honor,” Barbara said. “He is a very gracious man. Walking around the farm with him is something that was very special.”

John and Barbara said they welcomed security members into their home throughout the week. Their son, Cameron, and daughter-in-law, Kayla, were among family members who helped quickly prepare for Friday.

“Where the cows all lay down in their sand beds, they [security] had to sift through that even,” Kayla said remarking on the strict security. “The dogs had to walk through there and wherever he [Pence] was going to be walking really. It wasn’t just in the main building, but wherever he was touring on the farm.”

Cameron said it was a busy time on the farm the minute they received confirmation Monday.

“The whole logistics of getting everything ready for the Vice President to come was a lot, but it was worth it to be able to see him,” Cameron said. “I think people in the White House when they realize that we have a farm that we take good care of, they see we do not take anything for granted.”

Morning Star Dairy milks around 450 cows and has nearly 680 acres. John’s grandparents moved to the farm in the 1930s. Although it left the family briefly in the 80s, John and Barbara were able to buy back their original farmstead and a couple hundred acres.  They raised four children, two boys, and two girls, doing chores on the farm. Cameron plans to return as the next generation.

Speaking to the heart of Pence’s visit, John was optimistic about USMCA.

“I think it is a good deal,” he said. “Americans are hard workers, and they can compete as long as it's a level playing field, so they're just trying to keep things accountable. We will reap the benefits from that.”

Todd Servais, president of La Crosse County Farm Bureau and owner of Ser-Ridge Dairy, also took part in the discussion.

“I was in the field Monday,” he remembered. “I got a phone call that there was the possibility that the Vice President was coming.”

His seat at the round table was only confirmed after a complete background check. Then at 4:00 Thursday night, he received a phone call asking him to come for a COVID-19 test later that evening. With his results returned 7:00 a.m. Friday, he was cleared for the conversation. He too was positive about USMCA.

“I felt Vice President Pence and their administration has done a really good job at getting a level field for our products and getting rid of the Class Six and Class Seven Milk in Canada.”

He said prior to USMCA, Canada created those classes while participating in NAFTA to make their prices more competitive than the United States.

Although 2020 has not been an easy year for the agriculture industry, Morning Star Dairy continues looking ahead to the future.

“Everyone in their lives has an ebb and flow,” Barbara said. “You just have to keep the faith. We pray a lot and trust in God, and we are still here. We work hard. You just don’t give up. Farmers are hard-working people.”

With Wisconsin set as a swing state for the 2020 presidential election, more eyes may be on the rural communities.

“It makes me think they feel the agricultural side of Wisconsin is the driving force to the economy,” Servais said. “If the ag economy is running well, then the whole economy will too because the farmer always puts money back into the community.”

Pence’s campaign staff said they plan to return to Wisconsin several times before November.

It was like a scene out of the movies as Vice President Mike Pence visited Morning Star Dairy outside Onalaska Friday.
Grain trucks lined County Road Z to limit traffic. Vehicles were stopped and searched before entering the farm, and drivers were checked for identification and temperature. Security and secret service were on hand.
Hosting an event on a farm can interrupt the day-to-day routine for people and livestock alike, but Morning Star Dairy owners John and Barbara Schaller welcomed the challenge.
&ldquo;The very first thing I ever heard about it was on Saturday six days ago,&rdquo; John said. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know he was even coming to Wisconsin, and I thought it was a gag at first.&rdquo;
On Monday, individuals working for the campaign scouted the farm and decided it was a good fit. Pence was to take part in a round table there to discuss the new trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada (USMCA) that went into effect July 1.
&ldquo;It has been a humbling experience and an honor,&rdquo; Barbara said. &ldquo;He is a very gracious man. Walking around the farm with him is something that was very special.&rdquo;
John and Barbara said they welcomed security members into their home throughout the week. Their son, Cameron, and daughter-in-law, Kayla, were among family members who helped quickly prepare for Friday.
&ldquo;Where the cows all lay down in their sand beds, they [security] had to sift through that even,&rdquo; Kayla said remarking on the strict security. &ldquo;The dogs had to walk through there and wherever he [Pence] was going to be walking really. It wasn&rsquo;t just in the main building, but wherever he was touring on the farm.&rdquo; Cameron said it was a busy time on the farm the minute they received confirmation Monday.
&ldquo;The whole logistics of getting everything ready for the Vice President to come was a lot, but it was worth it to be able to see him,&rdquo; Cameron said. &ldquo;I think people in the White House when they realize that we have a farm that we take good care of, they see we do not take anything for granted.&rdquo;
Morning Star Dairy milks around 450 cows and has nearly 680 acres. John&rsquo;s grandparents moved to the farm in the 1930s. Although it left the family briefly in the 80s, John and Barbara were able to buy back their original farmstead and a couple hundred acres.&nbsp; They raised four children, two boys, and two girls, doing chores on the farm. Cameron plans to return as the next generation.
Speaking to the heart of Pence&rsquo;s visit, John was optimistic about USMCA.
&ldquo;I think it is a good deal,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Americans are hard workers, and they can compete as long as it's a level playing field, so they're just trying to keep things accountable. We will reap the benefits from that.&rdquo;
Todd Servais, president of La Crosse County Farm Bureau and owner of Ser-Ridge Dairy, also took part in the discussion.
&ldquo;I was in the field Monday,&rdquo; he remembered. &ldquo;I got a phone call that there was the possibility that the Vice President was coming.&rdquo;
His seat at the round table was only confirmed after a complete background check. Then at 4:00 Thursday night, he received a phone call asking him to come for a COVID-19 test later that evening. With his results returned 7:00 a.m. Friday, he was cleared for the conversation. He too was positive about USMCA.
&ldquo;I felt Vice President Pence and their administration has done a really good job at getting a level field for our products and getting rid of the Class Six and Class Seven Milk in Canada.&rdquo;
He said prior to USMCA, Canada created those classes while participating in NAFTA to make their prices more competitive than the United States.
Although 2020 has not been an easy year for the agriculture industry, Morning Star Dairy continues looking ahead to the future.
&ldquo;Everyone in their lives has an ebb and flow,&rdquo; Barbara said. &ldquo;You just have to keep the faith. We pray a lot and trust in God, and we are still here. We work hard. You just don&rsquo;t give up. Farmers are hard-working people.&rdquo;
With Wisconsin set as a swing state for the 2020 presidential election, more eyes may be on the rural communities.
&ldquo;It makes me think they feel the agricultural side of Wisconsin is the driving force to the economy,&rdquo; Servais said. &ldquo;If the ag economy is running well, then the whole economy will too because the farmer always puts money back into the community.&rdquo;
Pence&rsquo;s campaign staff said they plan to return to Wisconsin several times before November.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

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